Is Lymphoma Leukemia?
It is true that both leukemia and lymphoma are types of cancers, but there are some differences that make them two totally different types. First off, leukemia begins developing in your bone marrow; however, lymphoma begins developing in the lymphatic system. Both of these types of cancers represent a complex group of different blood-related cancers. Generally speaking, there are two types of lymphoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Because of the many advances in treatment, the survival rates for both leukemia and lymphoma have improved by leaps and bounds over the past decade.
The major forms of leukemia are divided up into four main categories. Both the myelogenous and lymphocytic forms of leukemia have acute and chronic forms. These terms denote the cell type that is involved in that type of leukemia. Acute leukemia mainly affects the cells are unformed or not fully developed yet and it is a fast progressing disease. These unformed or immature cells can’t carry out their normal functions. On the other hand, chronic leukemia is a slow progressing disease that allows the growth of greater numbers of more developed cells. These cells can carry out some of their normal functions.
The four main types of leukemia are acute or chronic myelogenous and acute or chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Because doctors and scientists are now able to measure specific features of the cells, it has led to further subclassification of the four major categories of leukemia. These let the doctor decide which treatment will work best for the cell type and how fast the disease could develop.
As stated before, lymphoma is divided into two categories, Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This type of cancer originates in your lymphatic system and around 56% of the blood cancers that occur each year are lymphomas. Thomas Hodgkin was an English physician that in 1832 discovered Hodgkin’s lymphoma. It is sometimes known as Hodgkin’s disease.
Lymphocytes are types of white blood cells and when they undergo a malignant change and begin to multiply, they will eventually cause an overcrowding and push out healthy cells. This creates tumors that can enlarge the lymph nodes or other parts of the immune system and results in lymphoma.
Lymphoma usually begins in lymph nodes or in collections of lymphatic tissues that are in organs like the stomach or the intestines. In some cases, it can involve the bone marrow and blood. This type of cancer can spread from one site to another. The incident rate in the United States for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma make it the sixth most common cancer among males and the fifth most common cancer among females. Although both leukemia and lymphoma have some similarities, they are very different types of cancer. In some cases of leukemia it can spread from the bone marrow into the blood and eventually into the lymph nodes, but this is not lymphoma. Your doctor can show you the many differences between the two types of cancers so that you will understand your form even better. Both types of cancers have their own treatment plans and you will have to talk to your doctor to find the one that is right for you and your needs.
